Duncan's Dad Turns 70 (or 17)

Event #2 in the Crazy Day was Duncan's dad's 70th birthday.  It was a quiet barbecue lunch at Point Walter in Bicton, and the guest list consisted mostly of relatives and a few family friends.  

Obviously the person at this cake shop misheard Duncan on the phone hehe.

Duncan and some of his rellies.

Isaiah and little Sarah.

Us

Speech

Then we had to rush off to Event #3....

Wedding 3 2010

A couple of days after we got back from Tom Price, we had one CRAZY day that was otherwise known as Saturday 16th October!  We had three engagements - one morning, one lunchtime and one night - which required three different outfits.  I felt like an actor playing a multitude of characters.

First up was the wedding of David and Rui, a couple from our old church in Perth.  They had a whirlwind dating period (10 days!), then they had about a six week engagement, but have been friends for a long time beforehand.  Unfortunately we couldn't attend the reception, but really enjoyed the ceremony which was held at the Uniting Church in the city.  Massive kudos to them for managing to pull it all off in such a short period of time.  We had a nine month engagement, and it still felt like we were rushing to get everything done.

Friends waiting for the bride to arrive.

Us

Bridesmaid #1.  All three were Rui's friends from work.

Rui's brother-in-law (I think!) walked her down the aisle.

The beautiful newlyweds.

On our way to Event #2.

Neighbourhood by Vonda Shepard

I'm currently in the midst of packing for our move which is less than two weeks away!  One of the most interesting things about an otherwise fatally boring task such as packing is rediscovering things you haven't seen for years, and exclaiming over them like they're long lost friends.  I was going through CDs of photos which I'd stacked next to my computer, and found photos from years ago.  It's good to laugh at the fashions and hairstyles of yesteryear, but there was also a twinge of sadness.  I rarely see some of those people these days, and some I've lost touch with completely.  Then I was reminded of this song from Ally McBeal.

Here's a photo I've been looking for.
It's a picture of the boy next door,
And I loved him more than words can say.
Never knew it 'til he moved away.

Faded pictures in my scrapbook.
Just thought I'd take one more look,
And recall when we were all,
In the neighbourhood

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Here's a photo of the neighbourhood.
Here's the corner where we stood.
Here's a snapshot of Dad's old car.
Never got us very far.

And all those friends,
Where did they go, I don't know,
All those friends we used to know,
In the neighbourhood.

Lesson 12 from Sarah's School of Dating

Christmas is coming, but, for some single people, it is not a time of sharing and caring. Christmas can often be an intense time of loneliness.

Matchmaking is a word that often doesn’t go down well with single people. It is almost ranked as lowly as dating agencies or websites. I certainly didn’t want to be the victim of over-eager matchmakers when I was single. I once let a friend match me up with a male friend of hers – with disastrous consequences. I later found out this guy told my friend he thought I was unattractive. Just great for the self-esteem....NOT!

I’ve also noticed that the keen matchmakers are almost always couples; those who are so blissfully happy in their relationships that they cannot bear to see anyone single and possibly lonely. There was no way I considered matchmaking friends when I was single. I was too busy trying to find someone for myself! Often a single person’s worst fear is that all of their single friends will eventually pair off and they’ll be left alone.

Having said all that, I do think there is a role for couples to play in helping their single friends find love. Not the ‘Bob meet Sally’ kind of way with not-so-subtle winks and giggling behind hands, but by creating environments where your different friendship groups get to interact. The downside to planned matchmaking is that there is often disappointment, and sometimes anger, from the matchmaker when their grand plans don’t work out. Maybe the guy they set their hearts on for their friend ends up liking another girl, or both parties end up angry at the matchmaker for causing embarrassment. No, it’s far better to create an environment where people can meet, mix and mingle, rather than try to deliberately set two people up.

So how should couples do this in subtle ways? Well, the Christmas/Boxing Day/New Year period creates endless opportunities for parties, barbecues, and other social occasions. Invite all of your friends and see what happens. Most people do not need blatant matchmaking, just an environment to meet the available fish in the sea, and are big enough and ugly enough to work it out for themselves.

At one wedding we went to this year, we heard how the couple met at a New Year’s Eve barbecue organised by mutual friends. Another couple we know met at a dinner party. Don’t be afraid about your friends from different groups meeting for the first time. Chuck an epic party and see what happens.

Hit Me With Your Best Shot

It's tennis season up here, but next week will be our last at our current club.  It's a great shame because we love our tennis club - such a friendly environment with great people who are encouraging no matter what your tennis ability.

These photos were taken a few months ago when our friends Craig and Sarah came to visit.

Lovely return, Duncan.

Don't I look pro...haha.

Craig's grandpa serve because of his bad back.

Fakebook

I think it's fair to say that a lot of people have been hurt by Facebook, myself included.  One of Duncan's cousins deactivated her account after finding out about the birth of her niece through some random on Facebook she didn't even know!  Other people have been hurt by the way they have been 'ignored' in cyberspace, the way people use Facebook all the time but STILL don't keep in touch, or the fact that others seem content to waste time playing games yet say they are too busy for people.

I won't deny that the way people use Facebook has irritated me greatly, yet I'm still alive and kicking on the social media beast because if I didn't, hardly anyone would keep in touch!  That's just the way it is sadly.  Social media eases the burden of isolation somewhat.

Having said that, I still don't 'get' how people use Facebook.  The following has both annoyed and puzzled me.  Anyone care to explain?

• People who by their own words are 'private people' setting up Facebook accounts, and then complaining about how everyone is sharing stuff online.  Well, duh!  That's what it says on the screen when you get to the Facebook homepage - Facebook helps you connect and share with the people in your life.  Why are people complaining about this when that is the nature of the beast?  If you don't like it, go elsewhere!  Although I've noticed that there are plenty of people on Facebook who hold their own cards very close to their chests, but are happy to lurk on other people's pages.
• People who accuse their Facebook friends of 'stalking' them for merely going to their page and having a look at their photos etc.  And, yes, some people are not joking when they accuse others of stalking.  Hello, why did you add/accept that person if you don't want them to see your page?
• People whose friends' lists fluctuate like yo-yos (yes, I notice these minute details).  I've noticed some people adding others, deleting them, then re-adding them.  Why delete them in the first place then?  It's not like you get charged for having more friends.
• People who put up a random photo of themselves such as a plant, their child, or their pet.  This makes it impossible to figure out whether they are the Bob Smith I knew from school, or one of the many others with that name.  If they don't want to be found, why sign up?
• People who set up blocks so they cannot be found when someone searches for them.  I'd understand if they had a real life stalker on their hands, but why make it impossible for long-lost friends to find them?
• People who sign up for Facebook to keep in touch with only one or two people, then get annoyed when they get added as a friend by lots of others.  Ummm, ever heard of Skype?
• People who add/accept you as a friend, but then alter the settings so you can only see some of their information or photos.  It should be the whole hog or nothing.  Why add/accept someone if you don't want them to see your stuff?  If you think they're dodgy, don't add/accept them in the first place.
• People who come up to you and tell you they have seen your Facebook page (well, mine is set to private, but they know I have a page), but still won't add you as a friend.  Why are you telling me you've seen my page unless you're going to add me?  Is it a hint for me to add them?  (Yes, I really have had a few people approach me in that way).
• People who write cryptic status updates, and then when people ask them to elaborate, they (almost irritably) say, "I can't say, it's a secret blah blah blah."  Well, if it's something private, don't put it on there if you're not prepared to share the rest of the story.  You can't blame people for asking about something you wrote publicly.  Why do they do this?  Attention-seeking perhaps?
• People who set up a joint Facebook account for themselves and their spouse/partner when it's clear that they will be the only one using the account, their other half has no interest in Facebook, and will not be contactable there.
• People who are quite content to chuck their major news on their status update when it takes two seconds to send a bulk email or text message to announce the news to good friends BEFORE telling the general public.  Have they just gotten lazy?  Putting it on a status leaves it open to less important people finding out before the more important ones.

What has astounded you about how people use Facebook?  What quirks have you come across?

I don't get it.  Please explain...

Quote of the Day

Truth is, everybody is going to hurt you; you just gotta find the ones worth suffering for.

– Bob Marley